adjective
B2
Upper-Intermediate
drinkable
DRINK-uh-buhl
Drinkable (adjective) means Fit or safe to be drunk, especially used of water. Example: “The tap water here is perfectly drinkable.”
adjective
1
Fit or safe to be drunk, especially used of water.
"The tap water here is perfectly drinkable."
"After the filter was installed, the well water became drinkable again."
"Is this stream water drinkable, or should we boil it first?"
2
Of an alcoholic drink, especially wine, pleasant enough to be worth drinking.
"It's not a great wine, but it's perfectly drinkable."
"The pub sells a cheap, drinkable house red."
"For the price, the beer was surprisingly drinkable."
noun
1
Something that can be drunk, usually referred to in the plural.
"The stall sold snacks and drinkables to festival-goers."
"There were plenty of drinkables laid out on the table."
"She stocked up on drinkables for the long journey."
How to use drinkable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSafe or pleasant enough to drink.
When to use it
It is an everyday, neutral word suitable for both casual and formal contexts.
Memory tip
Remember it is drink plus -able, the same pattern as readable or washable.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
drinkable water
perfectly drinkable
a drinkable wine
barely drinkable
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Fill the gap
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The tap water here is perfectly _____.
Etymology
Drinkable comes from Middle English, where it was formed from drink with the ending -able, giving the sense of something capable of being drunk.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
undrinkable
impotable
Related words
Rhymes for drinkable
See all rhymes for drinkable →Frequently asked questions
What does drinkable mean?
It describes something, usually water or a drink, that is safe or pleasant to drink.
Is drinkable the same as potable?
They are close synonyms when talking about water, though potable is the more technical or formal term.
What is the opposite of drinkable?
The usual opposite is undrinkable, meaning unsafe or unpleasant to drink.
What is the meaning of drinkable?
"drinkable" (adjective) means fit or safe to be drunk, especially used of water.
